On Wednesday, an early morning assault on the Zhob Garrison in Northern Balochistan resulted in the martyrdom of four security personnel at the hands of terrorists, as confirmed by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s press department also disclosed that five soldiers had been seriously wounded.
The ISPR explained that vigilant soldiers thwarted the initial efforts by terrorists to infiltrate the facility. Following an intense gunfire exchange, the terrorists were trapped in a limited area near the periphery.
So far, the military has confirmed eliminating three heavily-armed terrorists, while a clearance operation by Security Forces is in progress to capture the remaining two, according to the ISPR.
The military affirmed that the nation’s security forces remain resolute in preventing attempts to disrupt the peace between Balochistan and Pakistan.
Terror Hotspots and Decline in Fatalities
In the second quarter of 2023, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan emerged as the main hubs of terrorist activity, accounting for over 80% of all casualties in the country.
A report released a day prior by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) suggested that the Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, and Sindh faced comparatively fewer violent incidents than K-P and Balochistan.
There was a significant 21% decrease in overall fatalities from the first to the second quarter of 2023, dropping from 358 to 284. However, Balochistan was the sole province experiencing an increase in violence-related deaths, with a 14% rise.
